View Full Version : Who's A Rat.com-Freedom of Speech or Physical Threat?
Polly
05-24-2007, 09:25 PM
I was watching the Today show (yet again) and this was on it this morning. Apparently, there is a website that exposes rats/snitches with pictures and other info. The "rats" exposed have all committed the same type of crime that they snitched on someone else for-so no government agents a la "Donnie Brasco."
http://www.whosarat.com/
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=01ea5224-22c3-40e5-938d-7ef71fab053c&f=05&fg=rss
Is publicizing this a illegal? Probably not-it is public record. Is it unethical? Hmm....that's difficult since most have committed the crime they are informing on. Should it be stopped? Again, I'm going to have to go with no-it's not illegal. The only thing I can see is that it might violate right to privacy.
Polly
It makes me uncomfortable. Since it is a matter of public record, then I don't see a problem with the information being published. Anyone who wanted to take the time to look it up could find the same information. But I do think it can be dangerous for the people who did provide information and that bothers me.
gr8mommy
05-26-2007, 05:48 AM
It's always been dangerous for those who provide information, and it always will be.
I think it quite ironic that by airing this, the Today show is bringing even MORE attention to it. Nothing like bringing something to the national media and saying 'should we?' Moot point, by that time.
It looks like the website charges a fee for searching? In that case, I don't know. I can see freely providing publicly available information as one thing. But it seems like it might be different if people are being charged to access the information.
It seems very different to me than that t-shirt issue in AZ. In that case, people are paying for the shirt, but the information itself is available to anyone. In this case, it's the information itself that's being paid for. That may be fine. People pay for information all the time. But something about it does bother me.
I find it extremely startling that for just $8 any person can research on that site- it's open access to any released criminal seeking revenge and poses a severe threat to them despite its disclaimers. Although informants are always exposed to some limited risk this amplifies it which is clearly irresponsible in todays climate of increasing crime, it also puts the entire justice system at a disadvantage as fear of being exposed would cause many to stop cooperating with the plouce even when offered an incentive such as a reduced sentence for themselves.
It looks like the website charges a fee for searching? In that case, I don't know. I can see freely providing publicly available information as one thing. But it seems like it might be different if people are being charged to access the information.
It seems very different to me than that t-shirt issue in AZ. In that case, people are paying for the shirt, but the information itself is available to anyone. In this case, it's the information itself that's being paid for. That may be fine. People pay for information all the time. But something about it does bother me.
I don't really have a problem with the fee. Websites can be expensive to maintain depending on the size. Mosts sites, even our little home here, do cost money just due to server costs. Ours is much smaller than the rat one so it isn't nearly as expensive.. Plus there are fees associated with some programs and purchasing licensing to use various formats such a the vbulletin we use. I would also think there are some costs associated with gathering the information. I don't think it is unreasonable for someone to try to recoup the cost somehow. If it does eventually turn a profit, then I wouldn't be surprised to learn that is something the owner wished for in the first place.